staff report/agencies

Punjab Additional Home Secretary Fazeel Asghar Wednesday admitted that Counter-Terrorism Department's method undertaken during Sahiwal encounter was wrong.
During briefing to a Senate committee, he explained that the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel should have first checked to see who was in the car.
Four people, including three members of a family, were killed at point blank … [Read more...] about Sahiwal encounter illegal

The government on Wednesday presented an economic reforms package envisaging revolutionary incentives and measures to encourage investment, exports, ease of doing business and strengthen important sectors of the national economy.
Finance Minister Asad Umar presented the package through 'The Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019' before the National Assembly.
Through what is … [Read more...] about Govt unveils incentives package to stimulate investment, industry

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that his government will launch the biggest ever operation in the country against money laundering.
He made the announcement while speaking to journalists at his office.
PM Khan said that the US State Department had put the annual money laundering figure for Pakistan at around $10 billion.
While speaking about the International Monetary … [Read more...] about Significant operation against money laundering in the offing

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to making the city of Karachi peaceful and prosperous, and directed the law enforcement agencies to make foolproof security arrangements accordingly.
This he said while presiding over an emergent meeting at Chief Minister House to review law and order situation in the metropolis.
The meeting was attended by Sindh … [Read more...] about Murad vows to make Karachi peaceful, prosperous

Hours after an attack at the consulate building in Karachi, the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad Friday asserted that any attempts to derail ties between the two brotherly nations will never succeed.
"Any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan relationship is doomed to fail," a statement issued by the embassy said. "We strongly condemn the terrorist attack at the Consulate-General in Karachi. The … [Read more...] about Attempts to derail Pakistan ties won’t succeed: China

KARCHI: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have entered final round of talks, with both sides hopeful of reaching an understanding despite 'differences'.
"Pakistan has extended talks with the IMF after the two sides failed to agree on the terms of a bailout package, a Finance Ministry official said on Tuesday, with a final deal now expected by mid-January.
Finance Ministry … [Read more...] about Pakistan, IMF deal pushed back to mid-January

KARACHI: Almost a week after protests from shopkeepers against the ongoing anti-encroachment operation, the team of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) with the help of law enforcement agencies demolished illegally-built shops around the Empress Market.
The operation against encroachments around the Empress Market was launched on late Saturday night with the use of heavy machinery by the … [Read more...] about ‘Illegal’ shops around Empress Market torn down

LAHORE: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former Punjab University vice chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran (VC) and four others, who were arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a case relating to alleged corruption and illegal appointments.
The bench ordered release of the five accused after depositing two surety bonds.
Former PU vice … [Read more...] about LHC grants bail to ex-PU vice chancellor, others

A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the abduction of 12 Iranian security personnel near the border with Pakistan, Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA reported on Monday.
Jaish al Adl has posted two photos claiming that those in the pictures are the troops abducted on October 16, ISNA said.
Jaish al Adl, formed in 2012, is a successor to extremist group Jundallah which has … [Read more...] about Iranian terrorist group claims kidnapping of border guards

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Wednesday said issues of Afghan refugees would come under discussion during the upcoming meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) scheduled to be held in October.
The next round of the APAPPS meeting, to be held in Pakistan in second week of October, would discuss all-inclusive matters of five sub-groups, including … [Read more...] about Pakistan to take up refugees issue with Kabul in Oct: FO